A review by cinderellasbookshelf
Lease on Love by Falon Ballard

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I ended up finishing this quickly and found it to be relatable because of the main character’s journey, while also bringing something different to the genre.

Sadie Green was ready for the promotion she so rightly deserved. When she is passed over for the job and subsequently fired, she is left wondering where she will go from here let alone where she will live knowing that she won’t be able to afford paying her rent. After accidentally mixing up a dating and find-a-roommate app, Sadie meets nerdy but reclusive Jack Thomas. Jack is in need of a roommate and offers Sadie a chance to live with him in his Brooklyn brownstone that comes with great amenities, a garden that Sadie sees potential in, and all under an incredibly low rent cost. How could she refuse? As Sadie begins to rebuild her life through her own flower business, and Jack gradually opens up to her and her friends, it’s possible that their budding relationship as roommates could develop into something more.

This book was fun and I really liked the banter between all the characters, especially through their group text messages. I also liked how compared to a few other romances, Sadie’s friends are as part of the story along with her growth and her relationship with Jack, that they do not feel sidelined to being supporting characters completely in the background. Another thing I liked was how the story followed Sadie’s career change from a stable corporate job to doing something she genuinely loved and wanted to pursue despite some doubts. It was pretty inspiring, I have to admit.

Now, although I liked this book, I didn’t love it as much as I hoped. Sadie was frustrating sometimes and a little too snarky for me, but I also had empathy for her because of what she’s been through. I also wanted to know more about Jack. I liked how he and Sadie slowly opened up to each other, but I would have liked what was revealed about him to have happened maybe a little sooner than later.


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